Control panel

ABSTRACT

A control panel, in particular for motor vehicles, has a screen ( 3 ) and, arranged on the latter, a number of control elements ( 4 ) for controlling the function of works units which are connected to the control panel. A first group ( 5 ) of control elements can be moved relative to the screen ( 3 ) between a first position over the screen and a second position alongside the screen. In the first position, the screen is divided up into separate fields ( 9, 10 ) with different display information, and in the second position the whole screen forms a single field. It is possible to switch between these field divisions by moving the first group ( 5 ) of control elements between the said positions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a control panel, with a screen and a number ofcontrol elements arranged on the latter for controlling the function ofwork units which are connected to the control panel.

PRIOR ART

Modern cars are being developed with an increasing number of functionsfor information, radio, telephone, navigation systems, telematics, etc.This places increased demands on space around the driver's seat area. Tocreate space for these functions and at the same time to retain acomfortable driving environment and satisfy the requirements on storagespace, the trend is to incorporate a large number of functions in aso-called multifunction panel.

To obtain a user-friendly interface for the driver, it is advantageousfor the air-conditioning controls to be separate from the othercontrols. This is normally done by designing a control panel exclusivelyfor air-conditioning functions, while a second control panel is used forcontrolling other functions. Both these types of control panels can bemade relatively small and generally have a monochrome screen.

For high-specification cars, there is an increasing demand for functionswhich require that a colour screen is made available at the driver'sseat. Examples of these functions are navigation systems with map,certain services in digital radio, internet services, instructionmanuals and travel guides on CD-ROM. Such functions are generally usedfor short periods and often when the car is stationary. To achieve goodfunctioning, the screen in these cases needs to be relatively large,which means that it creates a somewhat overbearing impression.

Since a screen of this type does not need to be in constant use, it hasbeen proposed that it can be moved in and out of the instrument panel bymeans of relatively complicated mechanics. This is a common solution inpost-assembly and has the advantage that the available panel surfacearea is well utilized. However, a disadvantage is that the mechanics arecomplicated and easily damaged. A pull-out screen may also causeproblems in terms of safety in the event of a crash. In addition, thescreen, in the pull-out position, can easily conceal some other featureon the instrument panel.

A more common solution is to have a fixed screen, often integrated withthe radio. Such a solution has a robust and integral appearance, but adisadvantage is that the central console in the vehicle is dominated bya large colour screen, which takes up a lot of space and appearsunnecessarily large in normal operation. In addition, extra space isneeded for air-conditioning controls and displays in order for theclimate control functions to be separate from other functions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to make available a control panel which,while occupying a limited space, provides room for the control of manydifferent functions, but which is nevertheless simple and user-friendly.Another object is to permit a robust design which is safe in the eventof a crash.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved by means of a design having thefeatures according to the invention. By making a group of controlmembers movable relative to the screen, the latter can easily beswitched to different display modes without increased space beingrequired. The control members can additionally be placed simply in sucha way that a user-friendly layout is obtained with these movable controlelements in different positions.

By virtue of the chosen design of the control panel, the advantage isalso obtained that one and the same space in the instrument panel can beused for a simpler type of control panel in which instead of a large,divisible screen, two separate smaller screens are used which are placedone above the other, for example. This makes it easy to change; thevehicle's specification level without the actual instrument panelneeding to be changed.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be evident fromthe attached description and from the other patent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a driver's seat area in amotor vehicle, with a control panel according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a control panel according to the invention,in a state with the screen divided up into two separate fields,

FIG. 3 shows a view corresponding to that in FIG. 2; but with the wholescreen free,

FIG. 4 shows a detail from FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a section V—V in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 shows a section VI—VI in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

According to FIG. 1, a driver's seat area 1 in a motor vehicle isequipped with a control panel 2 which is designed according to theinvention and by means of which the driver can control functions ofcertain work units included in the vehicle. Examples of these work unitsare the vehicle's climate control system, the radio with associatedmusic system, a telephone, etc. These functions can also cover someforms of travel data, an electronic map, navigation system or the like.

Ease of control demands the use of relatively large equipment, but atthe same time it is desirable, for reasons of space inside the vehicle,to have a large number of functions accommodated in a limited space.

A control panel 2 designed according to the invention is shown in moredetail in FIGS. 2 and 3. On a screen 3 there are a number of controlelements for controlling the function of different work units which areconnected to the control panel. Some of these control elements have beenprovided here with the reference number 4 and can consist of keys, knobsor other suitable elements. The aim is to use the screen 3 to displayinformation which relates to the function which has been selected forthe various work units via the control elements 4.

According to the invention, a first group 5 of control elements 4 can bemoved relative to the screen 3 between a first position over the screen3, as shown in FIG. 2, and a second position alongside the screen, asshown in FIG. 3, where it at least partially covers a second group 6(shown in FIG. 2) of control elements 4 situated at the bottom, i.e.alongside or outside the screen 3, and at the same time leaves thescreen 3 entirely free. Movement of the first group 5 of controlelements 4 is made possible by these control elements being mounted on asupport 7 which can be displaced over the screen 3 and which at least atone of its ends, but expediently at both ends, is mounted so that it canbe displaced on the frame 8 surrounding the screen 3.

In the first position of the first group 5 of control elements 4, asshown in FIG. 2, the support 7 and its control elements divide thescreen 3 up into two separate fields 9 and 10 with different displayinformation. In the second position of the first group of controlelements 4, as shown in FIG. 3, the screen 3 by contrast forms a singlecontinuous field 11 which has other display information than the fields9 and 10.

The field 9 can advantageously be used for controlling the radio,telephone, etc., while the field can advantageously be used forcontrolling air-conditioning functions, e.g. the setting of an automaticclimate control (ACC) system. In each case, suitably positioned andshaped control elements 4 can be used for the required settingpossibilities. Thus, for example, the upper row of control elements 4 inthe first group 5 can be used for the field 9, while the lower row inthe same group 5 can be used for the field 10.

After moving the support 7 with the first group 5 to the second positionin FIG. 3, the upper row of control elements 4 in this group 5 can beused for the field 11, while the lower row in the same group 5 canretain its earlier function belonging to the climate control system andthe field 10. It is advantageous in this case if each control element 4is provided with a suitable symbol which clearly indicates its function,e.g. engagement of automatic position, blowing air in direction ofwindscreen, activation of heat element in rear window, etc. In this wayit is possible to control important functions of the climate controlsystem regardless of how the screen 3 is being used.

The screen halves 9 and 10 can advantageously be monochrome, but it isgenerally desirable for the field 11, i.e. full screen status, to be acolour field. The screen 3 should therefore preferably be a colourscreen.

The field 11 can be used, for example, for map navigation, internetservices, displaying the vehicle manual, travel books, etc. When thisfield is in use, the vehicle is often advantageously stationary so thatthe driver is able to study the picture in detail and change the displayin the desired way. The associated control elements 4 do not thereforenormally need to be as large and as simply shaped as those controlelements which require to be used during driving and they can thereforeadvantageously be placed where they are not in the way of those controlelements which are needed during driving. In the embodiment shown, thistype of control element has been grouped to the right and to the left ofthe screen.

The screen 3 is switched between the positions according to FIGS. 2 and3 in a simple way by taking hold of the support 7 which for this purposecan be designed with a suitable grip, for example at the centre or atone of the ends. The support 7 should be easy to fix in the positionshown in FIG. 2, for which reason there should be some form of lockingarrangement at least at one end of the support 7, for example in theform of a simple snap-in lock which holds the support 7 in the intendedposition.

The design can also be such that the support 7, when it is pressed downfrom an upper position to a lower position, tensions a springarrangement, the force from this being used to move the support upwardsagain. This force can be released, for example, by a lock beingdisengaged when an upward movement of the support 7 is desired.

Another possibility is to couple the support 7 to a motor which movesthe support between different positions. The movement can be activated,for example, manually by manoeuvring a special control element, orautomatically via the radio, for example. In the latter case, a trafficreport, for example, can change the display function so that thenavigation computer can show an alternative route to avoid traffic jamswhich have developed as a result of an accident.

The embodiment described above can of course be modified in variousways, for example by changing the fields 9 and 10 around and insteadmoving the support 7 upwards from the position shown in FIG. 2, withassociated rearrangement of the control elements. The support 7 can alsobe placed vertically or in another way, and it can be given a shapeother than the one which has been shown here. The support 7 does notnecessarily need to be mounted at both ends, and it may instead beadequate to mount it at one end.

Signal transmission from the control elements 4 included in the firstgroup 5 can take place via transmission members in the form of, forexample, wires or switches at one or both ends of the support 7. Withthe aid of wires, the control elements 4 can, for example, at all timeshave contact with screen and work units, while it is possible, forexample with switches, to have engagement only in the positions shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIGS. 4-6 show in greater detail how the support 7 can be designed andmounted. At the end of the support 7 there is a vertical guide track 12in which a vertical guide edge 13 on the frame 8 engages. On the rear ofthe support 7 there is a rear projection 14 which reaches into avertical track 15 arranged in the frame 8 beside the guide edge 13. Onthe side of the rear projection 14 facing the screen 3 there are contactmembers 16 for cooperating with contact members 17 on the frame 8. Onthe frame 8 there is a lower set 18 of contact members 17, intended forcooperation with the support 7 in the lower position, and an upper set19 of contact members 17, intended for cooperation with the support 7 inthe upper position.

The contact members 16, which can, for example as here, be designed assliding contacts, are connected to the first group 5 of control elements4 arranged on the support 7, the number of contact members beingdependent on the number of control elements 4 and their functions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the control elements 4 on the support 7are not in communication with their work units during the movementbetween the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This's gives a robust andsimple design. However, if so required, continuous connection can bemaintained with the aid of, for example, a flexi film which runs withthe support 7 during the movement of the latter, in which case thecontact members 16 and 17 can be omitted.

On the rear side of the support 7 there is a projecting guide device 20,for example in the form of an edge or two pins. This guide device 20runs in a track 21 in the frame 8. In this way, an improved guidance ofthe support 7 is achieved, so that it is prevented from wedging fast ifloaded obliquely during movement. A corresponding arrangement can beprovided at the opposite end of the support 7. If need be, there canalso be contact members 16, 17 or equivalent at this other end.

The engagement between the frame 8 and the support 7 can of course bedesigned in another way than that shown here. If appropriate, themounting of the support 7 can be made easier by the said support beingdesigned with a front part and a rear part which are snapped together orjoined in another way once they have been moved into place on the frame8.

What is claimed is:
 1. Control panel, with a screen (3) and a number ofcontrol elements (4) arranged on the latter for controlling the functionof work units which are connected to the control panel, informationrelated to the function which has been selected for the work units viathe control elements being displayed on the screen, characterized inthat a first group (5) of control elements can be moved relative to thescreen (3) between a first position essentially over the screen and asecond position alongside the screen, in that in the first position thescreen (3) is divided up into separate fields (9, 10) with differentdisplay information, in that in the second position the whole screenforms a single field (11) with predetermined display information, and inthat it is possible to switch between these field divisions by movingthe first group (5) of control elements between the first and secondposition, and vice versa.
 2. Control panel according to claim 1,characterized in that the first group (5) of control elements isarranged on a support (7) which can be displaced across the screen andwhich is arranged to delimit a first field (9) and a second field (10)from each other in the first position of the first group (5) of controlelements.
 3. Control panel according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe support (7) is elongate and extends across the screen (3), and inthat its two end parts are mounted in such a way that it can bedisplaced in a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction. 4.Control panel according to claim 3, characterized in that thelongitudinal direction of the support (7) is horizontal.
 5. Controlpanel according to claims 2, characterized in that the support (7) canbe locked in at least the position it is in when the first group (5) ofcontrol elements is in its first position.
 6. Control panel according toclaim 5, characterized in that the screen, in the position in which itshows a single field (11), is preferably arranged for map display. 7.Control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the firstgroup (5) of control elements is arranged, in its second position, to atleast partially cover a second group (6) of control elements situatedalongside the screen (3) and, in its first position, to leave the secondgroup of control elements free.
 8. Control panel according to claim 1,characterized in that the first group (5) of control elements isarranged, in its second position, to act on the screen's single field(11) and, in its first position, to act at least on one of the twofields (9, 10) into which the screen is divided in this position. 9.Control panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intendedfor the instrument panel in a motor vehicle, and in that one (10) of thetwo fields of the screen, when the screen is divided up into separatefields (9, 10), shows settings in the vehicle's climate control system.10. Control panel according to claim 9, characterized in that the second(9) of the two fields of the screen, when the screen is divided up intoseparate fields (9, 10), shows settings in the vehicle's sound system.